Prefabricated building structure



Feb. 12; 1946.

c. H. LINDSAY PREFABRICATED BUILDING STRUCTURE 7 Filed Dec. 25, 1944 Patented Feb. 12, 1946 PREFABRICATED BUILDING STRUCTURE Charles Hunter Lindsay, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Lindsay & Lindsay, Chicago, Ill., a partnership Application December 23, 1944, Serial No. 569,485

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in prefabricated structures of relatively light weight, made of metal frame members and associated parts made of metal or other materials such as fibre composition. plywood, plastics, or the like,

adapted for containers, partitions, housing, furniture or similar structures.

More particularly the present invention relates to improvements in the type of prefabricated structure broadly disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,364,083 to Harvey B. Lindsay, issued December 5, 1942, in which such structure consists primarily of, polygonally disposed frame members having one or more V-shaped grooves therealong and enclosed by relatively thin sheet panel members having flanged margins having interlocking engagement in said grooves.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of panel and interlocking marginal structure therefor, whereby the panel body may be made substantially thicker than the marginal flange portion which has interlocking engagement with the frame members, and said panel body may also be made of different materials, such as fibre composition, plywood, plastics, or the like. Other objects will appear from time to time as the following description proceeds.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a frame member with two adjacent panel members connected thereto by lockin strips, in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a composite perspective view showing fragmentary portions of a frame member, locking strips and panels before assembly, and showing a locking strip of different form from that illustrated in Figure 1.

Figuref 3 is a transverse section showing a frame ,member with a pair of locking strips and panels in assembled relation thereon.

Figure 4 is a transverse section showing a modified form of locking strip arranged so that the like.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the invention as applied to a modified form of frame member which may be employed as an intermediate support between two panels disposed in the same plane.

Referring now to the details of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawing, Figures 1, 2 and 3 show my improved form of panel [0 and locking strip H as applied to a frame member l2 of the type broadly disclosed in Patent No. 2,364,083 hereinabove referred to. It will be understood that the frame member I2 is adapted to constitute a part of the framework of a complete structure, While the panel l0 and its locking member II will be connected to the framework to form a wall of such a structure.

The frame member l2 consists of a length of relatively stiff material, such as sheet metal, which is formed by bending a sheet longitudinally upon itself, so as to provide an enlarged C-shaped head IS, a pair of laterally spaced parallel webs IS, IS extending inwardly from the opposite inner ends of the head l5, and a pairof reversely bent, outwardly extending webs l1, l1, disposed at equally acute angles to their respective webs l6, IS, the connecting webs. l6 and I! thus forming outwardly opening grooves I8, l8 along the frame member I2 at opposite sides of the head Hi. In the form of frame member shown, the two outer webs 11, H are disposed substantially at right angles to each other and their connecting webs l6 are arranged at an angle of about 45 thereto.

The C-shaped head l5 forms an overhanging shoulder l9 at the outer end of each of the inner webs l6 of the frame member.

Referring now more particularly to the novel form of panel structure and its locking means, which constitutes the principal feature of the present invention, the panel body I0 consists of a flat sheet of any suitable material, such as metal, fibre composition, plywood, plastic, or the like. The sheet I!) is cut to fit in a, U-shaped marginal groove 20 of a locking strip II. Each locking strip is preferably formed of relatively thin sheet metal, bent to produce an outer flange 2|, a cross web 22, and an inner web 23 of the groove 20, and also having a somewhat wider web 24 bent'at substantially right angles to the web 23. A terminal or locking web 25 is bent outwardly at an angle of slightly more than 45 from the web 24, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The webs 24 and 25 of each locking strip are proportioned so as to have snug wedge-fitting engagement in the V-shaped grooves I8 of the frame member l2, with the web 25 along the inner web [6 of said frame member, and with its outer or free edge fitting beneath and engaging the overhanging shoulder 19 formed by the c-shaped head I5. As previously stated, the webs 24 and 25 are disposed normally at an angle slightly greater than 45 to each other, so that they can be inserted in the V-shaped groove l8 under moderate pressure, and the outer edge of the web 25 will readily yield and snap into place beneath the overhanging shoulder I! so as to maintain the locking strip I I under tension within the groove 18, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

It will be noted further that the inner web 23 of the U-shaped groove 20 which holds the panel member I is bent at right angles to the web 24, and that the latter web is slightly less than the depth of the proximate web I! of the frame member I2. Thus, when the parts are assembled as in Figure 3, the outer margin of the web II will engage the inner face of the panel l0 under a slight pulling tension of the strip I I, to provide mutual support for the several parts.

In the modified form of locking strip shown in Figure 2, portions of the terminal web are I cut away so as to leave individual longitudinally spaced fingers 25a, 25a for providing locking engagement beneath the shoulders IQ of the grooves Hi. This alternative form of locking fingers is broadly disclosed in the application for patent, Serial No. 537,142, so need not be more fully described herein.

In assembling the parts shown in Figure 3, the panel l0 may be initially inserted in the U-shaped groove 20 of the locking strip II, and said locking strip is then snapped into place in the groove 18 of the frame member l2. As an alternative method of assembly, the locking strip Il may be initially snapped into place in the V-shaped groove l8 and the panel l0 may then be inserted in the U-shaped groove 20, where conditions permit. In either case the outer flange 2| of the U-shaped groove is preferably arranged with respect to the webs 24 and 25 of the locking member I I so that the edge of the panel Ill will be retainedunder a holding tension between said flange 2| and the abutting edge of the web II of the frame member l2, when the parts are in fully assembled relation.

In the form shown in Figure 3, it will be observed that the U-shaped groove 20 extends only part way'across the locking groove l8 in frame l2 when the parts are in fully assembled relation. This arrangement is preferable in many cases where it is desired to disengage the locking strip from the frame member, by insertion of a suitable tool between the shoulder l9 and the outer edge of the locking web 25, or the fingers 25a.

The modified form of construction shown in Figure 1 is similar to that shown in Figure 3, excepting that the U-shaped grooves 20, 20 are extended outwardly over the C-shaped head l5.

This construction oifers the advantage of bringing the marginal edges of the panel members l0,

U-shaped grooves 20 which receive the margins of the panel [0 are serrated and-bent inwardly so as to become positively engaged with, or even embedded in the outer face of the panel In, when practicable. In this form, the outer webs ll of the frame member I2 may also be flanged outwardly at l'la so as to provide a greater bearing surface against the inner face of the panel 10. Thus, when the panel 10 is made of soft material, it will be nevertheless securely held in place when the parts are in assembled position. The intumed serrated margin of the U-shaped groove 20 may be initially embedded in the outer surface of the panel 10 as a means of retaining the locking strip 1 l firmly on said panel during shipment, and prior to the application of the panel and the locking member to the frame member 12. Moreover, when the panel member is made of especially soft material, it will be understood that the compression exerted on the outer face of the panel by the serrated edge of the u-shaped groove produced by locking the parts together in their finally assembled form, may itself be suflicient toembed said serrated panel surface.

Figure 7 shows a modified form of frame member I2a which is particularlydesigned for use as an intermediate cross brace to support two panel sections'disposed in the same plane. It will be observed that the intermediate frame member He has substantially the same general form as the corner frame member 12 shown in the preceding fi'gures, excepting that the inner webs [6a, Ilia are spread apart at an angle of approximately instead of being parallel to each other. When this intermediate type of frame member is used, it will be observed that the panel receiving grooves 20a, 20a of the associated looking strips Ha, Ha are disposed at substantially 45 to the inner flanges 24, 24 instead of at an angle of about 90 thereto, as in the case of the forms of locking strips shown in the preceding figures. In either case the panels have wedgefitting engagement with the frame member II or Ila by substantially the same interlocking action.

Although I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a composite structure a frame member, a panel sheet and a locking strip for forming a connection between the edge of said panel and said frame member, said frame member being relatively stiff and having a groove formed therealong with opposed side walls and with a locking shoulder. overhanging the edge of said groove farthest removed from the intended position of edge in the connection of said panel sheet, said lockingstrip having two flat flanges formed therealong bent at an acute angle to each other for wedge-fitting engagement in the groove in said member with the free edge of the, outermost flange engaged beneath said lockingshoulder, and the innermost flange of said locking strip having a groove formed along its outer rgin for receiving the margin of said panel fshee ;i n detachably fitting engagement therein,,the last named groove being arranged so that the inner face of said panel sheet engages the adjacent outer edge of said frame member when said locking strip' is retained in the groove of said frame.

2. In a composite structure a frame member, a panel sheet, and a locking strip affording detachable connection between said frame member and said panel sheet, said frame member having a groove formed therealong-with opposed side walls with a locking shoulder overhanging the edge of said groove farthest removed from the intended position of said panel sheet, said locking strip having two flat flanges formed therealong having wedge-fitting engagement in the groove in said frame member with the free edge of the outermost flangeengaged beneath said locking shoulder so as to secure said locking strip in said groove affording a snap-fitting engagement of said locking strip in said groove, and

the innermost flange being bent along a'line substantially coincident with the proximate edge of said groove, to form an open groove for receiving the edge of the panel sheet, with the inner face of said panel sheet in engagement with said proximate edge of said first-named groove when said panel sheet and locking strip are .in fully assembled relation on said frame member.

3. In a composite structure a frame member, a pane1 sheet and a locking strip for forming a connection between the edge of said panel andsaid frame member, said frame member being relatively stiff and having a groove formed therealong with opposed side walls and with a locking shoulder overhanging the edge of said groove farthest removed from the intended position of connection of said panel sheet, said locking strip having two flat flanges formed therealong bent at an acute angle to each other for wedge-fitting engagement in the groove in said member with the free edge of the outermost flangeengaged beneath said locking shoulder, and the innermost flange of said locking strip having a groove formed along its outer margin for receiving the margin of said panel sheet in detachably fitting engagement therein, the last named groove being arranged so that the inne face of said panel sheet engages the adjacent outer edge of said frame member undertension of said locking strip when the flanges of the latter are retained in interlocking engagement in the groove of said frame.

4. A composite structure, comprising a panel, a frame member, and a locking strip connecting the ed e of said panel and said frame member,

said frame member having a groove formed with two, opposed side walls, the side wall of the groove farthest from the intended position of the panel having an overhanging shoulder therealong defining with the opposed wall a relatively wide opening for said groove, and said locking strip being provided with two acute angled flanges formed along its margin and having wedge fitting engagement with said groove by the initial insertion of the apex of said flanges and the subsequent engagement of the free edge of the outer flange beneath said shoulder by expanding ten- Sion ofsaid flanges, and the inner flange of said locking strip having a groove formed along its margin opening in a direction away from said outer flange for receiving the margin of said panel in detachably fitting engagement therein, the last-named groove being arranged so that the inner face of said panel engages the adjacent outer edge of said frame member under the tension of said locking strip when the flanges of the latter are retained in interlocking engagement in the groove of said frame member.

5. A composite structure comprising a panel, a frame member, and a locking strip for connecting the edge of said panel and frame member, the locking strip having an inner flange extending transversely thereof and an outer flange extending at an angle thereto, said flanges being relatively yieldable, the frame member having an outwardly facing groove, one wall of said groove having an overhanging shoulder engageable by the free end of said outer flange and flexing said outer flange toward said inner flange when the flanges are inserted in the groove, said flanges being at an acute angle to each other when inserted, said shoulder also forming a locking abutment for the free edge of the outer flange and maintaining the inner flange against the opposite wall of the groove when the outer flange is pressed beyond said shoulder, and the inner flange of said locking strip having a groove formed along its margin opening in a direction away from said outer flange for receiving the margin of said panel in detachably fitting engagement therein, the last-named groove being arranged so that the inner face of said panel engages the adjacent outer edge of said frame member under tension of said locking strip when the flanges of the latter are retained in interlocking engagement in the groove of said frame.

C. HUNTER LINDSAY.

Certificate .of Correction Patent No, 2,394,702. February 12, 1946.

* OHARLESHUNTER LINDSAY It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously issued to Lindsay & Lindsay, of Chicago, Illinois, a partnership, as assignee of the entire interest therein whereas said patent should have been issued to The Lindsay Uorporation, of Chicago, Illinois, a corporation of Iiiinois, as assignee by mesne assignments, as

shown by the record of assigmnents in this ofiice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of June, A. D. 1946.

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

